Golshifteh Farahani(Paterson),Justin Min(The Umbrella Academy),Sarita Choudhury(Homeland) andHaley Lu Richardsonare set to joinColin Farrellin A24’s robot dramaAfter Yangfrom writer-directorKogonada, Collider has exclusively learned
After Yangis based onAlexander Weinstein’s short storySaying Goodbye to Yang, which was set in a world where robotic children are purchased as live-in babysitters. The story followed a father and daughter as they try to save the life of their robotic family member, Yang, who was programmed to help his little sister learn about her cultural heritage.
The film will follow a couple, played by Farrell and Farahani, who adopt a young Chinese girl as well as an A.I. sibling named Yang (Min). When Yang suddenly becomes unresponsive, the family goes to great lengths to repair him. Choudhury will co-star as a museum director who takes great interest in Yang, while Richardson will play another A.I. who strikes up a relationship with Yang.
Theresa Parkwill produce under her Per Capita Productions banner along with Cinereach (We the Animals). They teamed to acquire the short story last summer and tapped Kogonada, hot offColumbus, to write the script.
Farahani recently starred oppositeAdam DriverinJim Jarmusch’s dramaPaterson, and she’ll soon be seen alongsideChris Hemsworthin the action-thrillerDhaka. She has worked withRidley Scotttwice, onBody of LiesandExodus: Gods and Kings, and she also appeared inPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. She’s repped by CAA, which did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Best known for playing Ben Hargreeves on Netflix’sThe Umbrella Academy, Min also has a role inNicolas Winding Refn’s upcoming Amazon seriesToo Old to Die Young. He’s repped by The Kohner Agency, Authentic Talent and Literary Management.
Choudhury recently starred oppositeTom HanksinTom Tykwer’sA Hologram for the Kingand appeared in bothMockingjaymovies in theHunger Gamesfranchise. In addition toM. Night Shyamalan’sLady in the Water, she also starred on Hulu’sThe Pathand Showtime’sHomeland. Choudhury is repped by Buchwald and Washington Square Films.
Kogonada is the South Korea-born writer-director who made his feature directorial debut with the 2017 romantic dramaColumbusstarringJohn Choand Richardson, whose credits also includeSplitandThe Edge of Seventeen. She currently stars oppositeCole SprouseinFive Feet Apart. Richardson is repped by the Gersh Agency and 3 Arts Entertainment.
